Since the start of modern mechanical engineering, numerous patents, new developments and innovative details can be attributed to the inventive spirit of INDEX. Perhaps that is the reason why we are always looking to push our limits and be better. Our ultimate goal is to build the best turning machines through top performance. Check out the current INDEX & TRAUB product portfolio including production turning machines, turn-mill centers, turn-grind centers, vertical turning machines and CNC multi-spindle turning machines.

INDEX & TRAUB automatic turning machines are especially designed for fast, cost-effective production of standard automated turned parts and complex CNC turned parts. The flexibility of CNC technology, combined with the high speed of classic automation, allows the production of small to medium lot sizes at competitive prices.

The INDEX & TRAUB universal turning machine has an excellent reputation around the world when it comes to the machining of large chuck, shaft, and bar workpieces. Through precision, efficiency, short cycle times, and ease of use, these universal turning machines have set a standard in their class. The machines can be tailored to suit any specific requirements – prototype production, small and medium series production, or for use in a production line.

INDEX multi spindle automatic lathes combine the advantages of CNC technology with those of cam-controlled machines. They can be used not only for series production of a wide range of precision parts but also for small series due to their extremely short setup times. Whatever the application, these multi spindle turning machines impress with their high performance.

INDEX & TRAUB turn-mill centers set the standard for economic, high-precision solutions tailored to the customer's needs. Standards ranging from the classic production turning machine to tailor-made machining cells equipped with handling units. For the machining of simple to highly complex parts, in small to large lot sizes, INDEX consistently offers economically and technologically superior solutions.

INDEX vertical turning centers meet all requirements of a low-cost flexible series production of chuck parts. The vertical mobile motor spindle carries out the “handling” and “machining” functions. Short travel distances, combined with high rapid traverse speeds, substantially reduce time. Even high-precise grinding operations are possible on these vertical turning machines.

The turn-grind centers combine the advantages of the turning and grinding process, such as shorter cycle times, high quality and maximum process safety. In addition, the machines benefit from the rigidity of the machine concept, which is traditionally designed for the high process forces during turning and milling and ensures tolerances down to the nearest µ.

CNC sliding headstock automatics from INDEX & TRAUB are designed for exact and productive manufacturing of long and slim parts with a maximum diameter of 32 mm. The multitude of variants, miniturization and precision of the work pieces are but a few of the demands on a CNC swiss turning center. The TNL-series is characterized through high performance in combination with easy setup and programming.

Always well loaded. The bar loading magazines are ideally adjusted to the INDEX & TRAUB CNC turning machines for single-spindle and multi-spindle turning operations. They convince with short set-up times , fast bar change and a backlash-free guidance of the bar for high surface qualities.

Excellent software solutions for INDEX & TRAUB machine tools. Discover the new operating system iXpanel i4.0 ready for a direct communication with your business organization and the machine control. Take advantage of our outstanding programming and 3D-simulation software VirtualLine.

Virtual Machine is a software solution that supports almost all of the functionality of your INDEX machine tool and adds even further components. You simulate the exact machining, regardless of whether you carry out programming on the machine or with a CAM system. It is based on the original data of the Siemens software, the INDEX control and the machine geometry.

VirtualPro is an innovative programming aid for INDEX turning machines. A large number of powerful input masks, parameterizable sequences and geometric functions simplify programming considerably. You create the desired workpiece program more quickly and conveniently and, thus, in a more reliable manner.

Standard functions and interfaces available in the control enable easy integration of the machine in the respective production environment. You have quick access to production information and custom applications that are displayed directly on the control screen.

WinFlexIPS Plus is the enhanced version of the proven system WinFlexIPS, tailored to the ideal use of the TRAUB machines with the functionalities programming and simulation on the basis of the TRAUB TX8i CNC core – supplemented by the additional advantage of manual operation of the entire machine functionality.

High tech in the shadow of the Mont Blanc

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To be successful in contract machining in the long term, a company must be able to offer more than quality and favorable prices. The French medium-sized company JCM Décolletage masters the increasing demand of customers for flexibility regarding quantities and deadlines as well as further services with great success.

“We have developed from a traditional bar-turning machine operator to a very broad-based machining specialist with a high service share,” explains Michel Jiguet-Covex, owner and managing director of JCM Décolletage in Sallanches (FRA). This region within sight of Mont Blanc is a center of the French metal industry. Founded by Jiguet-Covex in 1979, the company initially began producing series parts on low-cost and highly productive automatic lathes. It was recognized early on that the best strategy for the future is to expand the range of technologies and services offered step by step.

Complete package of services ...

Instead of limiting themselves to cheap mass-produced parts according to drawing specifications, the company consistently pursued the path to becoming a full-service provider capable of offering its customers the required process chain, including the necessary additional services, right up to development partnership in the design of new products. In addition to the production of prototypes and pre-series, these development services also include the complete development of the production process. Today, JCM supplies numerous industries from automotive manufacturers through mechanical engineering and aerospace to medical technology.

... Flexibility ...

“Another of our maxims is to respond as flexibly as possible to customer requirements,” reveals M. Jiguet-Covex. In principle, this is also part of the company’s service philosophy, as he explains. This starts with the response time to requests. A first statement is sent to the customer within the same day if possible. Flexibility also includes the aspects of materials, dimensions and quantities. In addition to practically all common industrial metals, plastics are machined as well. Series sizes are flexible. The company handles everything from small series to quantities of several million units and thus offers the customer a “one-stop shop”.

... and a wide range of technologies

“For the same reason, we have systematically expanded our technology range over the years,” says D. Grandjacques. Therefore, around 10% of annual sales are consistently invested in new machines. At present, the production is divided into four different areas. The “classic” automatic lathe shop with multi-spindle lathes mainly controlled by cam plates was expanded in 2013 and 2017 by two CNC-controlled INDEX MS40 multi-spindle automatic lathes. These allow simultaneous processing of bars up to 40 mm in diameter on 6 spindles and are much easier and faster to convert. In two In other departments, complex parts are manufactured on 26 CNC-controlled sliding or fixed headstock automatic lathes, which can handle high-precision and very complex machining operations. This is where predominantly parts for electronics, aerospace and medical technology are manufactured.

"We have again opted for an INDEX machine because we have had a very good experience with it."

Why the INDEX MS40 was chosen

The decision to purchase the INDEX MS40 was made solely because we wanted to address new, as yet untapped market segments with this system,” smiles Jiguet-Covex. With the cam-controlled multi-spindle machines previously used, certain categories of parts with higher requirements in terms of geometric complexity and precision simply could not be produced. The existing single-spindle machines, on the other hand, could not keep up in terms of productivity and costs. With the new systems, he was able to manufacture more sophisticated products at competitive costs and at the same time react much more flexibly to requests for smaller series or to sudden fluctuations in order activity. His experience was so positive that he has now purchased another INDEX MS40, which is used together with a fully automatic inspection and assembly device for the manufacture of a sophisticated module for automotive turbochargers.

Close partnership with the manufacturer

“We have again opted for an INDEX machine because we have had good experience with these products and with the local representative,” M. Jiguet-Covex sums up. They were always very satisfied with the service, advice and training provided by the manufacturer. Beyond normal business relations, there is also a development partnership with INDEX, for example, to assess new tasks with regard to their feasibility or to develop special accessories for special applications.